Westerville City Schools are proud to partner with The Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in support of the 5th annual Great Columbus Duck Race and Run, presented by Meijer. This family friendly activity benefits the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Robert Frost Elementary students Megan Dickerson and Olan Ross, along with Whittier Elementary pupil Doug Spayde, are serving as Patient Champions for the event, to highlight the life-saving research and medical care that is provide by Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
The Duck Race will take place on Saturday, August 20, at Creekside in Gahanna, and is being billed as a “quacktastic” time. A 5 and 10K will be held, along with a kid’s duck dash, plenty of children’s activities, a live band and a mass splash of over 10,000 rubber ducks racing to the finish line. You might be the lucky duck that wins one of the great prizes – a one-year lease on a convertible BMW, a year’s groceries at Meijer, or a one-week vacation in Mexico.
When Megan was born she weighed just 1 lb., 11 oz. and spent the first three months of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She has seen many specialists at Children’s throughout her young life and has a number of diagnoses related to her prematurity. She is now seven years old and is excited to be entering the first grade this August. Megan is an amazing little girl who has been a fighter since the day she was born. She and her family have loved their experiences with Children’s Hospital!
Olan was born at just under three pounds and spent 42 days in the NICU. Since his release from Intensive Care, he has grown to be a strong, thriving boy thanks, in large part, to the incredible care provided by Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Doug was born with Noonan Syndrome. He has spent over 100 days as a patient at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and undergone three open-heart surgeries, the first when he was only six days old. Doug would not be the great big brother, loving son and inquisitive student if it weren’t for the care he received in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). He owes his life to The Heart Center. Nationwide Children’s Hospital means everything to the Spayde family, for without it, Doug would not be alive.
So waddle you waiting for? Please visit www.columbusduckrace.com to learn more about the event, purchase rubber duck entries, and sign up for the 5 and 10K or kid’s duck dash. Make sure to select Westerville City Schools from the drop down menu, when purchasing your rubber duck racers. If you have event questions, please e-mail Cindy Laux at cynthia.laux@nationwidechildrens.org.